Prank call nurse found hanging

The nurse who was duped by a prank call from two Australian radio DJs to the hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was found hanging, an inquest has heard.

PUBLISHED: 04:41, Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Jacintha Saldanha was found hanging in her nurses' quarters by a colleague and a security guard on F [PA]

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, a mother-of-two from Bristol, was found in her nurses' quarters by a colleague and a security guard on Friday.

There were also marks on her wrist. Two notes were found in her room and another was among her possessions, London's Westminster Coroner's Court was told.

Detective Chief Inspector James Harman told the Coroner, Dr Fiona Wilcox, that Scotland Yard detectives would be in contact with their colleagues in Australia to interview witnesses to "put the best evidence before you" about the circumstances of the death.

The body of Indian-born Ms Saldanha had been visually identified by her accountant husband Benedict Barboza, the court heard. None of Ms Saldanha's heartbroken relatives were at the five-minute hearing but they were not forgotten by the coroner. As she set a provisional date of March 26 next year for the next hearing, Dr Wilcox told family representatives in the court: "I would like the police to pass on my sympathies to her family and everybody who has been touched by this tragic death."

Ms Saldanha had been fooled by the two DJs into believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales during the prank call to the King Edward VII's Hospital in London. She had unwittingly transferred the call from the Sydney-based station 2Day FM to a colleague, who described in detail the condition of Kate, who was being treated at the time for severe pregnancy sickness.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, who is campaigning on behalf of the family, has written a letter to the chief executive of the Australian radio company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), Rhys Holleran, calling for the full facts. Mr Vaz, who arrived after the hearing, said outside court: "I have not received a response so I think we will need him to respond."

A mass is to be held for Ms Saldanha at London's Westminster Cathedral on December 15. The mass will be offered "for the repose of the soul of Jacintha and her grieving family," a spokesman for Westminster Cathedral said. "We would hope to hold a more formal memorial after the inquest has concluded." Ms Saldanha's body was released after the hearing. A Westminster City Council spokesman said: "The body was released to the undertakers on behalf of the family at approximately 11am."

The DJs behind the hoax call - Mel Greig and Michael Christian - have given an emotional account of their reaction to Ms Saldanha's death. Interviewed on Australian TV networks, the presenters said their prank call to the hospital had "a tragic turn of events no-one could have predicted or expected".

Staff at SCA have been forced to move into safehouse accommodation and managers have recruited 24-hour bodyguards for their protection, according to reports. Australian news website news.co.au said police have launched an investigation due to staff receiving death threats, with one letter specifically targeting Mr Christian. The letter reportedly said there are "bullets out there with your (Christian's) name on" and contained further threats involving a shotgun.